Update Sept. 1: The Ohio Ballot Board has approved placement of Issue 2 on the ballot this November.
Issue 2 is basically the resolution passed this year by the Ohio legislature that calls on voters to amend Article XIV of the Ohio Constitution. The resolution, discussed more fully in Animal Law Coalition’s earlier report below, now called Issue 2, requires the creation of a “Farm Care Standards Board” that will alone have the authority to decide standards for treatment of farm animals in Ohio. The Board would be weighted with industry representatives. It would mean agri-business would not be held accountable in Ohio for cruel treatment of farm animals.
Issue 2 will be on the ballot in November. Ohio voters will decide whether to place all decisions regarding the care and treatment of farm animals. A no vote means disapproval of this proposed amendment.
Update June 26: The Ohio Senate has now approved SJR 6 by a unanimous vote. It will be up to the voters in November, 2009 to defeat this effort to amend the constitution to create a “Farm Care Standards Board” that will alone have the authority to decide standards for treatment of farm animals in Ohio. If voters approve this resolution in November, brutal factory farm practices are likely to continue unabated in Ohio.
For more on this, read Animal Law Coalition’s earlier report below.
Testimony was offered yesterday, June 24, on both Ohio HJR 2 and SJR 6.
HJR 2 as amended, then quickly passed the House by a vote of 84-13.
The resolution was introduced in both the House and Senate just days ago.
If the resolution is approved this November 3, 2009 by voters, it will be impossible to use ballot initiatives to pass anti-cruelty measures in Ohio for farm animals.
The resolution is a transparent attempt by agri-business to stop a planned ballot initiative to give Prop 2 protections to Ohio pigs, veal calves and egg-laying hens.
HJR 2 which is supported by Ohio Gov. Ted Strickland, was introduced by Rep. Allan R. Sayre and Rep. Margaret Ruhl.
SJR 6 was introduced by state Sens. Bob Gibbs and Jason Wilson.
The resolution would amend the state’s constitution and create a 13 member Ohio Farm Care Standards Board “for the purpose of establishing and implementing standards governing the care and well-being of livestock and poultry”. That means standards of care for farm animals could be decided only by this Board and not voters or even state legislators.
An amendment to the resolution in the House and Senate removed the duty of “implementing standards”.
The Chairperson would be the director of the Department of Agriculture. 10 members would be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the state senate. The members must include the State Veterinarian, dean of the agriculture department at a state college or university, a licensed veterinarian, representatives from family farms, food safety, and a statewide farmers organization; 2 consumers, and 1 county humane society representative, meaning animal control.
The Speaker of the state House and president of the Senate can each appoint members who must be family farmers. “Family farmer” is not defined.
An amendment to the House and Senate versions clarified that the farmers representing statewide organizations could be from different organizations. Not one animal welfare advocate would be on the Board.
The only other proviso states: “In establishing and implementing those standards, the Board shall consider factors that include, but are not limited to, agricultural best management practices for such care and well-being, biosecurity, disease prevention, animal morbidity and mortality data, food safety practices, and the protection of local, affordable food supplies for consumers.” (Again, “implementing” was removed from the approved House and Senate versions.)
This resolution will only make sure brutal factory farming practices continue in Ohio.
Indeed, it was obvious from yesterday’s testimony in both the House and Senate that the resolution was put forth to stop plans for a ballot initiative that would give voters a chance to ban cruel factory farming practices.
Roger Wise, President of the Ohio Farmers Union, warned proponents, however, “We feel like HJR 2 and the [proposed] Livestock Care Standards Board prevent [a] collaborative relationship between agriculture and animal rights groups and instead create an adversarial climate”.
Wise also said a resolution passed hurriedly in this way created a risk farmers would be portrayed as villains especially given the cost of such regulation during an economic downturn.
Dean Vickers, a representative from the Humane Society of the United States, explained HSUS would like to meet with farmers and work out better conditions for the animals such as eliminating gestation crates for pregnant pigs.
Vickers reminded them that HSUS tried to do just that in Ohio. He said the Ohio Farm Bureau refused to “engage in meaningful dialogue” last February. Vickers also said he has met with 20 House members seeking support for a change in the law to help give farm animals more room.
pigs in gestation crates”This effort to amend Ohio’s constitution by creating an industry dominated council to oversee farm animal treatment is poor policy and an obvious attempt to thwart meaningful reform,” he said.
The Ohio Environmental Council questioned the need to amend the state constitution and the speed with which the resolution was being pushed through the legislature.
Other states moving to stop cruel factory farm practices
Maine joined Colorado and Arizona in banning these cruel practices for pregnant sows and veal calves. California with its successful Prop 2 will ban cruel confinement for egg laying hens as well. Oregon and Florida ban cruel confinement of pregnant sows.
For more on the cruelty of these practices, go here. Bills that would end these abuses are pending in New York and Massachusetts.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
This resolution, SJR 6, may be voted on by the Ohio Senate at any time. There is not much time. Contact Ohio Senators here and find and contact your Ohio senator here. Urge them to vote NO to SJR 6. Tell them this resolution strips voters of their basic right in Ohio to have a say on issues like this through a ballot initiative. Don’t wait. Do it now.